Herpes

What is Herpes?
Herpes is a contagious viral infection caused by the HERPES
simplex virus (HSV). It affects 30 million
Americans. And as many as 50,000 new cases occur each year (1).

Types of herpesHerpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of
HSV. HSV type 1 tends to cause sores on the lips (known as fever blisters
or cold sores), but it can also infect the genitals. HSV type 2 causes
sores on the genitals, but does, at times, also affect the mouth.

How it spreadsHerpes most often spreads through skin-to-skin
contact with active soars. Since the virus can infect both the mouth and
the genital area, it commonly spreads through sexual intercourse, oral
sex, and through contact with someone who recently touched a sore. HERPES can also live on inanimate objects. While
such infections are rare, you should avoid sharing a towel with a person
who has an active herpes outbreak.

Sometimes people have herpes outbreaks
that are not visible. Therefore, you should always use condoms when having
sex with a person who has herpes, regardless of whether or not the partner
has a visible outbreak.

Length and frequencyThe length of an initial herpes episode is usually 2-3 weeks. After this,
the virus will travel to the sensory nerves at the end of the spinal cord,
where it will remain in an inactive state. In most people the virus
will reactivate at times. After the first, herpes episodes usually last a day and occur at the
same site as the original infection. All outbreaks of herpes are contagious.

Herpes recurrences vary in frequency and severity between person to
person. Some people will only have one or two outbreaks in their life,
while others may experience several attacks a year. The pattern of
recurrences changes in most individuals over time.
[ To Top ]

How do you know if you have Herpes?

Symptoms of an initial episode of herpes
usually appear 2 to 12 days after being exposed to the virus. Typical
early symptoms are:

An itching or burning sensation

Pain in the legs, buttocks, or genital area

Vaginal discharge

Abdominal pain or pressure

Within a few days, sores appear
near where the virus has entered the body, i.e. the mouth or genital
region. They also can occur inside the vagina, on the cervix, or in the
urinary passage. At the beginning, small red bumps appear. These bumps
then develop into blisters, and, later, become painful open sores. Over
several days, the sores become crusty and then heal without leaving a
scar. Some other symptoms that are associated with the first episode of
genital herpes are:

Fever

Headache

Muscle aches

PAINFUL OR DIFFICULT URINATION

Swollen glands in the groin area.

IF YOU ARE HAVING
DIFFICULTY URINATING, OR IF YOU EXPERIENCE PAIN WHILE URINATING, CALL YOUR
DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY!!!

DiagnosisBecause herpes can
appear differently in every individual, accurate diagnosis is essential. A
doctor may administer a blood test to check if the HSV is in the body. A
blood test, however, will not reveal whether the individual can pass the
herpes virus to another person. To determine
whether herpes is contagious, the doctor will
touch a cotton swab to an active legion to obtain a sample of the fluid
for testing.
[ To Top ]

What to do if you have herpes

Since herpes is contagious, it is very
important to take a few precautionary steps to avoid spreading the virus:

keep the infected area clean and dry

try to avoid touching the sores

wash hands after contact

avoid sexual contact from the time the symptoms are first recognized
until the sores have healed

There are several methods of
minimize the pain and discomfort associated with herpes outbreaks.

Salt Baths: To clean, soothe, and dry the soars in the vaignal area,
use 1 tablespoon of salt for every 600ml of water, or about a handful of
salt for a shallow bath.

Pain relievers

Loose cotton underwear can help alleviate discomfort and encourage
the healing process

MedicationThere is no cure for herpes. Three drugs are
currently available to help reduce the severity and frequency of the
virus.

Acyclovir is a drug that can shorten the length of the initial
herpes episode and make recurrences less
severe. Acyclovir can be taken orally and must be taken with 24 hours of
the onset of symptoms. Acyclovir has uncommon side effects including
headaches, nausea, and diarrhea.

Famciclovir is a drug that is used to treat recurrences and
prevent future outbreaks. Famciclovir reduces the amount of pain and the
length of the recurrences. The side effects of famciclovir are mild with
headache and nausea being most commonly reported.

Valacyclovir is a third drug that helps soars heal faster and
reduces both the period of pain and the contagious period of the virus. In
clinical tests, valacyclovir prevented the development of blisters in one
third more patients who took the drug within 24 hours of noticing the
first symptoms of the outbreak, compared to those who took a placebo
(dummy pill) (3).

Alternative TherapiesSome people use organic interventions
to treat herpes. Two of the most commonly used are L-lysine and red marine
algae. L-lysine is an amino acid that is
found naturally in some foods. L-lysine is thought to slow the replication
of HSV, especially HSV1. To maximize the efficiency of this amino acid,
500 mg (miligrams) to 1,000 mg should be taken on an empty stomach, and
the intake of foods such as nuts, seeds, peas, and chocolate should be
reduced. The second uses red marine algae. In some lab tests, red marine
algae has been shown to inhibit herpes virus,
however definitive tests to evaluate this intervention in humans are
lacking (4).

Herpes can be spread to an infant during birth. The risk is greatest in
babies whose mother contracts HSV during the final trimester of birth. The
virus can be spread to a child through:

HSV being present in the birth canal during delivery.

Kissing by someone who suffers from cold sores.

In rare instances, by touching an active cold sore and immediately
touching the baby.

If the mother contracted the HSV virus before
pregnancy, she will rarely pass the virus to her child. Regardless of when
a woman is first infected, if she has herpes
and is pregnant she should see a doctor.

4 Adapted from http://www.drweil.com/qa_answer/0,3189,8,00.html
[ To Top ]

This website is an information resource center and does not provide medical advice.
Information from 4collegewomen.org website
should not be a substitute for medical advice from a health care professional.